Fundraising will need to continue for the entire duration of the project, and beyond.

However, don’t let my comments put a halt to discussion on the subject 🙂

Following their Stage One Pass announced in December 2003 the Heritage
Lottery Fund (HLF) have agreed the grant to VTS which means that when the partnership funding is in place, the VTS Trustees can give the go ahead for restoration to commence.

I interepet that to mean that S2 has now been reached, and the funds are in place for restoration to commence.

There will always be safety checks and balances that need to be in place before, and during here years flying – and – yes the harsh reality is that if she fails inspection at any time she will be grounded (either temporarily or permanently) – BUT that is true of any and every aircraft in service today and is no more, or less of a barrier, in practical daily terms, than it is to a brand new Boeing 747 or an ageing Edwardian Boxkite (recognising, of course, the difference in scale, ergo cost). I fail to see the point in bringing up what is, in my view, a whorey old chestnut. Because exactly the same can be said of every other aircraft.

A lot can happen in 10-15 years – who knows what is going to happen then, it is merely a position that is held now, and may, or may not, be changed nearer the time for her final retirement. It is far to early to engage in speculation as to where she is finally going to end up now, in my view. We can have that debate 8-10 years from now (or later).

They needed a credible, recogniseable, location for the suits, no doubt. In 10-15 years time, Bruntingthorpe may well be the place most people recognise as being the home of Cold War Jets – but the public barely know of it’s existence. Duxford is regularly televised, has probably the most well known aviation museum in the country, and is therefore relatively well known.

Let us merely rejoice that S2 has been reached, the funds will be released and VTTS are finally in a position to continue with her re-assembly to flying condition.

It is blindingly obvious that the CAA will need to be satisfied (and, no doubt, a host of other organisastions) that she is in flying condition before she’ll be allowed to take to the air – it is simply a pointless, defeatist remark to bring it to any kind of attention – again, in my view.